TOLEDO, Ohio — We are just over a month into 2023, and there have already been five homicides in Toledo, with three of them involving juveniles.
That has groups like the Coalition for Peaceful Toledo Neighborhoods coming together to hopefully find solutions.
The group was founded by four former Toledo mayors along with other community leaders.
One of the founding members in the group is Rev. Dr. Stephen Swisher of Epworth United Methodist off Central Ave. who took part in a press conference on Saturday at St. Martin De Porres Church to address issues of gun violence.
Swisher says he feels compelled to do something even as the violence continues.
"'I do know this, we hear people, we're listening, we're trying our best to do something," said Rev. Swisher.
The coalition's goal is to bring more awareness to the issues of violence while also engaging the community to reach out to their elected city officials.
They also say they aren't looking for money from the city.
"None of the people in the coalition are asking the city for money, we're not asking the city for a dime," said Rev. Swisher. "But we are asking for awareness."
The meeting consisted of around 30 people, including former Toledo mayors Mike Bell (I), Donna Owens (R) and Carty Finkbeiner (D). Each of the former mayors took the podium to push their message and encourage the current city government to act.
"I know they're nice people, but they're not solving violence and crime as the major problem in this city," said Finkbeiner.
Bell said in the next 30 days they are going to take the information they have gathered from the public's feedback and put it in a proposal for the city council and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
Other things brought up in the meeting were re-engaging Block Watch and providing more education against the dangers of violence in schools.
Overall, the message of action and accountability over conversation is key.
"Encourage people to get involved with their elected officials and let them know how significant it is that their voice is heard about declaring an emergency in Toledo on gun violence," said Rev. Swisher.
Swisher said the coalition's next meeting will be on February 16 at their new headquarters in downtown Toledo off Nebraska Avenue and will be open to the public starting at 5:30 p.m.